The Sundance Film Festival is packing up after over 40 years in Park City, Utah, but sticking to the mountains. The iconic event will be moving just one state over to Boulder, Colorado for the 2027 festival and beyond. The 2026 festival will still take place in Park City.
The decision followed an extensive search for a new location that began in 2024, with the candidate cities eventually narrowed down to Cincinnati, Ohio, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boulder. According to the official release from the festival, “the Institute envisions the heart of the Festival centered in downtown Boulder utilizing a wide array of theaters and venues, and incorporating spaces around the Pearl Street Mall, a pedestrian-only street. Nearby spaces will offer dedicated locations for our community to gather, including select spots on the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder campus. The majestic Rocky Mountains will frame the horizon for festival goers.”
The reasons for the shift are many, but perhaps best encapsulated by this insider comment reported by Deadline in April 2024: “Something had to change, the festival is outgrowing Park City, the stretch marks are showing. The status quo needed a kick and a restart, and this is the best way to do it, even if it puts a few people’s noses out of joint.”
Related Video
Festival founder Robert Redford said in a statement that “I founded the Sundance Institute with a commitment to discovering and developing independent artists, with the Sundance Film Festival serving as the platform for stories to help expand audiences and broaden the landscape. That mission remains even more critical today and will continue to be our core principle. Words cannot express the sincere gratitude I have for Park City, the state of Utah, and all those in the Utah community that have helped to build the organization. What we’ve created is remarkably special and defining. As change is inevitable, we must always evolve and grow, which has been at the core of our survival. This move will ensure that the Festival continues its work of risk taking, supporting innovative storytellers, fostering independence, and entertaining and enlightening audiences. I am grateful to the Boulder community for its support, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for the Festival there.”
While this is a seismic change for the festival, Sundance itself has evolved dramatically over the years from its indie roots, becoming a potential launching pad for Oscar-winning films like CODA and A Real Pain in recent years as well as a multi-million-dollar film market. One thing that likely won’t change, even if the location does: It remains one of the most prestigious opportunities for independent filmmakers to get their work seen by the world.
For more, check out Consequence‘s review roundup of all the movies we saw during the 2025 festival. The 2026 edition will run from January 22nd to February 1st, 2026 in Park City.
Content shared from consequence.net.